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Claims that evidence of life on Mars has been found by Nasa scientists were doubted yesterday by Belgian Nobel Prize-winning biologist Christian de Duve, an expert on life in the Universe, who said he has "serious reservations" about them. "The evidence as presented by the scientists at a news conference is far from conclusive," he said. "The chemical evidence mentioned ... has been found before on other meteorites and never been used to claim that it is evidence of life. Just because organic substances were found on a meteorite that is supposed to have come from Mars does not mean they were formed on Mars by living organisms," he said.

"It is interesting. It is important. It is intriguing. But it is far from conclusive." Mr de Duve said. "The scientists were very cautious in saying that there could be other interpretations. But they did participate in the show which was obviously stage-managed by Nasa ... Would this have happened if this was not an election year in the US?" Charles Arthur